Cane.



No. 869,682. PATENTED OCT. 29. 1907.

' W.-AUTBNRIETH.

CANE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY-13. 1907.

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THE NoRms PETERS Co..'wAunnmmN, v. c

UNITED STATES WILLIA AUlENRllllH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed July 13. 1907. Serial No. 383.654-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM AUTENRIE'LH, a citizen of the United Statesof America, and a resident of Gincinnati, in the county of Hamilton andState of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCanes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in walkingcanes and its object isto provide a convertible walking-cane having a suitable handle with asliding lateral arm or drop-step attachment, means for convenientlysecuring such latter-named attaclnnent to the handle and adapted forready release when required. and means at the lower end of the cane forsupporting the said drop-step attachment in position for use.

A further object of this invention is to provide the horizontal portionor step proper of said attachment with an elongated opening, the edgesof such opening being somewhat beveled or sharpened so that the foot ofthe user may be prevented from slipping on the step and at the same timeproviding a scraper for any mud collected on the bottom of the shoe thatmight in any manner hamper the use of the cane.

Other incidental and minor features of the invention will be fullyhereinafter described and, also. duly referred to in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention,Figure l. is an elevation of the cane in its normal state for walkinguse; Fig. 2, an elevation, on a scale somewhat larger than that of Fig..l. but with its intermediate portion broken away (for lack of space)and showing the cane at a rightnngle to the position seen in Fig. l.with the drop-step in place at its lower end in position for use; Fig.3. a fragmentary sectional elevation of the upper end of the walkingcaneseen in Fig. 1. but on the same scale as that of Fig. 2, and showing thelatch device for securing the dropstep in normal position contiguous tothe liandle; Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional elevation of the lower endof the walking-cane seen in Fig. 2. with the drop-step in using positionthereon; and Fig. 5, a plan view of Fig. 2, the drop-step being shown insolid lines in the position it occupies when the right foot and theright hand are to be used on the cane, and the dotted-lines showing theposition of the drop-step when the device is to be used by the left handand foot.

In these views, 1 indicates the barrel or body portion of the cane,commonly called the stick; 2, the handle portion disposed, as customary,at a right-angle to said stick at its upper end; and 3 a lateral armforming a drop-step detachably secured in its normal position contiguousto the handle by means of a latch 4.

The stick l'may be made of one solid piece of mate rial, or of a thinmetallic rod or tube surrounded by a tube of rubber or other suitablematerial, strength and symmetry being both duly considered as well ascost,

in the construction thereof. The handle 2 is hollow and has a spiralspring 5 inclosed therein, one end of such spring being rigidly caughtin such handle and the other end of such spring being connected to theinner end of the latch-bar l. 6 is a pull-button on the outer end of thelatch-bar 4;. 4 is a pendent hook formation at said outer end of thelatch-bar adjacent the pull-button 6, the purpose of which will bepresently described. The drop-step 3 is made hollow and preferably withan elongated opening 3 in its upper portion and has a vertical tubularportion 7 extending downward from its inner end and sliding over thestick Il. Notches 8, 8 are made in the lower end of the vertical portion7 of the drop-step, such notches engaging the stops 9, 9 at the lowerend of the stick 1, when the dropstep is in lowered position for use andpreventing the turning of the step on the stick when in such use. Thewalls of the elongated opening 3 of the step 3 are preferably beveled toan edge, as best seen in Figs. f and 5, whereby the foot of the user maysecure a better grip thereon and to prevent his slipping thereover, suchbeveled edge also forming a scraper for removing the mud or dirt fromthe bottom of the shoe and such dirt being readily emptied through theouter open end of the step.

In the use of the device, the step 3 is normally upheld in contact withthe handle 2 by means of the hook portion f of the latch l, such latchbeing held in locked position by means of the closing-tension of thespring 5 thereon. The latch is readily released by drznving outward onthe pull-button (3 against the tension of the spring 5, at which timethe stop drops by gravity and its notches S engage the stops 9 at thelower end of the stick. If the user employs his righ t hand on thehandle, the step must be in the position shown in solid lines in Figa 2,l and 5 and, if the cane is to be used with the left hand, the stepshould be drawn slightly upward from contact with the stops 9 and swunghalf-way round on the stick so as to assume the position seen indottedlincs in Figs. 2 and 5. When the step is not to be used, it isdrawn upward along the stick and brought parallel to the handle 2, itsouter end, which is open, engaging the hooked outer end 4 of thelatch-bar, the latter acting automatically by means of the spring 5 tolock the step in its raised or normal position.

In making the elongated openin 3 along the upper face of the step 3, afile or other suitable tool is used to remove the metal, and, inbeveling'snch metal along the walls of said opening, a shoulder 3" isleft near the outer end of the step and serves the purpose of a stop toprevent lateral movement or slipping of the foot sidewise from the step.i

The device is intended for use as a walking-stick, the step 3 under thehandle not being uncomfortable to the hand in gripping same and, also,for use in stepping from the street or elsewhere into cars or otherVehicles, or to elevated positions that would otherwise be veryinconvenient and a hardship to the user. The step 3 can be instantlydropped to using position and conveniently raised along the stick tonormal position under the handle, as desired.

I claim 1. A convertible walking-cane comprising a stick or bodyportion, a hollow lateral handle at the upper end thereof, a springlatch device with an outer hooked end in the hollow of said handle, alateral arm or drop-step hav ing a vertical, pendent inner end slidingover said stick and engaging said latch device when in normal position,

and a stop or detent at the lower end of said stick for supporting saidlateral arm or drop-step when dropped downward'along said stick intousing position as a step.

2. A convertible walking-cane comprising a stick or body portion havinga lateral handle at its upper end and a stop or detent at its lower end,a latch device in said handle and a lateral arm or drop-step having apendent inner portion sliding over said stick, notches in the lower endof said pendent portion of the lateral arm and an elongated opening witha shouldered outer end construction in said lateral arm or drop-step.

WILLIAM AUTENRIETH.

Witnesses JOHN ELIAS Jonas, NORMA Kmsnn.

